Ex-boyfriend admits lying

NATASHA Ryan's former boyfriend admitted in court yesterday he was a liar.

NATASHA Ryan's former boyfriend admitted in court yesterday he was a liar.

Sitting stone-faced in the dock of Rockhampton District Courtroom 4, Scott Angus Black said only two words to the judge ? "Plead guilty''.

Black was originally summonsed on December 6, 2003, on charges of perjury.

Both Ryan and Black were charged in March 2004 with false representation under the Police Administration Act in an attempt to recoup $500,000 spent on the investigation into Ryan's disappearance.

These charges will be presented again for mention in Rockhampton Magistrates Court next week.

Yesterday's charge, read out by Judge Grant Britton's associate, dates back to April 2, 2002, when Black testified in Brisbane at the trial against serial killer Leonard John Fraser.

"...You testified that you had not seen nor had any personal contact with Natasha Ryan. How do you plead, guilty or not guilty?'' he asked.

Black said: "Plead guilty.''

At the time of the trial Fraser was charged with the murder of five women, including Rockhampton teenager Ryan.

Eight days after denying seeing or hearing from Ryan in a Brisbane court, she was found hiding in a cupboard at a Mills Avenue, North Rockhampton home, where Black lived.

The charge of perjury carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. Prosecutor Justin Whalley, said both he and Black's defence barrister Anne Demack, were keen to finalise the matter.

Prosecution did not oppose bail which was granted on the undertaking Black appear when called to do so.

Originally published as Ex-boyfriend admits lying